a kitchen at last

I love having the kitchen almost done...there is so much more room and space to entertain.....and having Mom's tree up and some of her decorations- remind me of Holidays at my Parent's home.... Elle, by accident, was admiring this Christmas house I have always adored since my parents died and she pulled it down and it fell to the floor and broke in a million pieces....it wasn't her fault but I was so sad....anything that was my Mom's I don't want to lose and I feel like I don't have that much because I wasn't at their home to go through my childhood things.....bottom line, I was sad to see it go! I wanted to scream, cry and pout....

But, I am thankful for the tree Mommy left behind. It's a perfect little tree that fits nicely into our cozy living room.....

One of our best friends drove in for the weekend. Always wanting to help and take on projects while in town, broke in the new kitchen with his speciality-pizza night, and I enjoyed talking with him over coffee in the morning or while they enjoyed a glass of red wine or beer, I sat there chatting with my NA champagne which I found to taste pretty good....we are so thankful for his friendship and appreciate all of his help since we have moved into this home. Ted's working on a "man room" in the basement so him and Josh spent most of the weekend down there or making trips to Lowes...

Hard to believe we have one weekend left here before we are back in MI for the following weekends for parties and Holiday break....next weekend my Aunt, Uncle, Sister and nephew come into town. So looking forward to time with my Family and to do some festive things over the weekend. It will be exciting to show them the new renovations and be together before Christmas and to show them Cincinnati in December. I can already feel my heart hurt a little more each day as Christmas nears. I still can't believe they are really gone and that they are truly missing all of this and each and every Holiday. It's still so heartbreaking. We miss them so much yet there is nothing we can do to bring them back and our only option is to keep on living as we have been....but these are the times when that becomes extra difficult to do. I think of my brother and praying for him. He's lonely too and will be alone at Christmas as well without his immediate Family. I'm so sorry...